The fast life and sudden death of Evansville oil man Ray Ryan

Ray Ryan was an oil man, a gambler, a friend to national entertainers and a murder victim, killed by a car bomb on Evansville's East Side. A new book details the fast life and sudden death of Evansville oil man Ray Ryan.

Courier &amp; Press Archives Helen and Ray Ryan are seen at Churchill Downs.

Courier &amp; Press Archives Senator Edward Kennedy is greeted by Bermuda Dunes co-owners Ray Ryan, right, and the Ernie Dunlevies, left, as the brother of the late President flew into Bermuda Dunes Airport (near Palm Springs, Calif.) to campaign for John Tunney, third from left, son of former heavyweight champion Gen Tunney on June 30, 1964. Tunney is a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. House of Representatives.$RETURN$$RETURN$

KEVIN SWANK / Courier &amp; Press Herb Marynell talks about the book, Mob Murder of America’s Greatest Gambler, during an interview at The Courier &amp; Press on Tuesday. The book is the story of former Evansville resident Ray Ryan.$RETURN$$RETURN$

Kevin Swank, The Evansville Courier &amp; Press

KEVIN SWANK / Courier &amp; Press Former police detective Steve Bagbey talks about how he always planned to write a book, and now he has done it with Marynell on a case he started one early in his career.$RETURN$$RETURN$

Kevin Swank, The Evansville Courier &amp; Press

Courier &amp; Press Archives Ray Ryan murder investigator then Det. Steve Bagbey of the Evansville Police department is seen with investigation files near the first year anniversary of the car bombing in Oct. 1978.$RETURN$$RETURN$

Courier &amp; Press Archives President Eisenhower, left, listens as British Speed King Donald Campbell, second from left, reveals his plans for an international auto safety campaign as a result of a wreck of his $4,500,000 Bluebird. Others, from left, are Campbell’s wife Toni, oilman Ray Ryan, and Mrs. Nance Holmes. The meeting took place at the Eldorado Country Club in Palm Springs, Calif.